York Man Sentenced To Life In Prison After Kidnap and Rape

37 year old Mark Ford Thompson of Hospital Fields Road in Fulford has been sentenced to life in prison at Teesside Crown Court.

The charges Thompson was found guilty of are:

Three counts of rape

Two counts of attempted rape

One count of kidnap

One count of sexual assault

One count of attempted sexual assault

One count of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Thompson stood trial after he abducted a 20-year-old woman, at around 4am on Tuesday 29 October 2013, from The Stonebow, York. After kidnapping his victim, Thompson subjected her to a traumatic ordeal.

Earlier the same morning Thompson had been thrown out of a friend’s house, where he had been allowed to spend the night, after he entered the bedroom of a 24-year-old woman living at the property, uninvited.

The attempted assaults took place on Coney Street, York, in February 2009 when he attacked a 24-year-old woman and July 2013, when he assaulted a 32-year-old woman at a house in York.

Detective Chief Inspector Maria Taylor, who led the investigation, said: “Thompson is a violent and dangerous man who carried out a premeditated attack against defenceless woman he preyed on at random. He subjected her to a horrifying and degrading ordeal.

“I believe that Thompson would have subjected his other victims to a similar trauma had he had the opportunity.”

DCI Taylor continued: “I would like to take this opportunity to praise the victims for their bravery for reporting these distressing crimes and having the courage to give evidence in court.

“Although this verdict can never undo the events they endured I hope the fact that Thompson will now go to prison brings them some comfort.

“I would also like to thank the witnesses for the evidence they gave, which has allowed us to bring this case to a successful conclusion.”